Guidelines and Application Procedures for API 578 Positive Material Identification (PMI)

Presented on : March 6, 2012 Presented by : Don Mears-Oil & Gas Industry Consultant & Trainer

Presenter: Don Mears

President of Analytical Training Consultants Oil & Gas Industry Consultant for Thermo Scientific Niton XRF Analyzers Author of API RP 578 2nd Edition PMI Certification Course Certified API Training Provider Certification TPCP# 0118 30+ Years in the Oil & Gas Industry API Member and Sub-Committee Member on API Inspection Summit 2011

Niton XRF Analyzers

API/TPCP -0118

Presentation Outline:
Introduction New Construction- QA/MVP Programs Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs PMI Field Testing Methods ( XRF or OES ) Technologies Control of Incoming Materials & Warehouse Elements of Maintenance Systems for PMI Recording & Reporting PMI Test Results Conclusion ( Questions & Answers )

Introduction: Why should you implement PMI according to API 578 ?

Note: The leading insurance industry statistics indicating that the US refining sector has more than three times the rate of property losses of refineries overseas.

Dr. Moure-Eraso with USA Chemical Safety Board (CSB) urges companies to take action to prevent accidents, including:
Implement a robust mechanical integrity programs with an emphasis on thorough inspections of critical equipment Monitor process safety performance using appropriate leading and lagging indicators to measure process safety before major accidents occur Maintain an open and trusting safety culture where near-misses and loss of containment incidents are reported and investigated

Aerial view of the damaged heat exchangers following the April 2, 2010 fire

Close-up of ruptured heat exchanger

Introduction: Corrosion Failures in Process Piping

41% of the largest losses in the hydrocarbon processing industry resulted from failures in piping systems. Corrosion is one of the leading causes of piping failures. OSHAs National Emphasis Program (NEP) includes positive material identification (PMI) as a part of Mechanical Integrity (MI) Recognized And Generally Accepted Engineering Practices or RAGAGEP
Example RAGAGEP for PMI: API RP 578, Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping Systems, Section 4.3 CSB, Safety Bulletin Positive Material Verification: Prevent Errors During Alloy Steel Systems Maintenance, BP Texas City, TX Refinery Fire
Second International Symposium on the Mechanical Integrity of Process Piping
January 1996, Houston, TX, USA

Introduction: Why Did OSHA Establish the National Emphasis Program (NEP) Program in USA?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Acts
Process Safety Management (PSM) 1910-119-Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHC) 2/24/1992 (Regulation) Refinery National Emphasis Program (NEP) CPL 03-00-004 6/7/2007 (Enforcement) Chemical National Emphasis Program (NEP) 09-06 (CPL 02) Notice Pilot NEP 7/27/2009 (Enforcement) Standard-API-570-Piping Inspection Code Standard-API-510-Pressure Vessel Inspection Code Standard-API-653-Storage Tank Inspection Code Recommended Practice-API RP-578-Material Verification Program-MVP/PMI Recommended Practice-API 571 HF Corrosion in CS Pipes ( REs, Cr, Cu, Ni ) Recommended Practice-API 939-C-Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation, & Retro-Active PMI, 7.1.4&5

American Petroleum Institute (API)

Mechanical Integrity Needs in the Oil & Gas Industry

Understanding HOW, WHY, & APPLYING: API 578 PMI Guidelines and Applications Proper Training and Refresher Training Needed Data Management Software- Now Required for PMI (PCMS, Ultra-Pipe, Meridian, Solid PMI)

New Construction: Do Not Rely Solely on Supplier Material Test Reports (MTRS)
Experience has shown that you cannot rely on material test reports (MTRS) alone; there can be significant errors. One customer site survey revealed as much as 40% of material test reports (MTRS) did not match actual chemistry. They also tend to loose the reports. They get separated from the existing material.

Trust but Verify - This is what PMI is !!!

New Construction: PMI Cycle Overview- Renewed & Now Required Emphasis

Asset Recovery Asset Management

Residual Elements found in Carbon Steel (i.e. Cr, Cu, NI, V, Ti) MTRs Normally do not test for these Elements and should not be in the Carbon Steel ! But They Are There!!!

New Construction- QA/MVP Programs

New piping systems-Lay Down Yards Pipe fittings, valves & flanges Welds & welding consumables Longitudinal pipe and weld fittings Weld overlays or cladding Low Si in H & S Service Components from distributors Forgings Instruments Bolting Expansion joints and bellows HF Alky- Residual Elements

Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs :

Material Verification Program for Existing Piping Systems
Responsibilities - The Owner/User is responsible for determining if a retroactive material verification program is appropriate for each existing piping system, for prioritizing the piping systems to receive retroactive PMI testing and for determining the extent of PMI testing required. Prioritizing Piping Systems for Retroactive PMI Testing - If Owner/User elects to prioritize piping systems for the material verification program or needs to determine whether PMI testing is needed at all, the Owner/User should consider the following:
Likelihood of a material mix-up during previous project and maintenance activities. Consequences of a failure. Some factors to be considered include: flammability, fire potential, toxicity, proximity to other equipment or community, temperature, pressure, mode of failure, and size of release. Reason for alloy specification (i.e., corrosion resistance or product purity). Historical data relating to inadvertent material substitution. This may be related to previous experience with material nonconformities in the process unit or within the operating plant.

Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs :

Material Verification Program for Existing Piping Systems ContdPrioritizing Piping Systems for Retroactive PMI testing Contd :
Carbon Steel Substitutions in Low Alloy Steel Systems Residual Elements in Carbon steels in HF alkylation Units Gasket Materials Process Units Susceptible to Sulfidation Construction and Maintenance Practices Reasons for the Alloy specification other than Corrosion or structural integrityExample: SS for Lube Oil Systems used for oil Purity

Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs :

Priority for API 578 2nd Edition: Residual Elements in Carbon Steels in Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation Units: Note: Carbon Steels in HF Acid service have been reported to suffer increased corrosion rates based on the Residual Elements (RE) in steels. In general, it has been reported that steels with a high RE content are likely to suffer enhanced corrosion attack. Operators should review the potential impact of this in HF service. A guideline is that for base metal of C> 0.18% wt% and Cu + Ni + Cr, 0.15% wt % is optimum. These values are critical as the type and concentrations to be measured will directly affect the analytical methods operations need to adopt. API RP 571Pages 12,38

Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI )

Programs :

Priority for API RP 578 2nd Edition High Temperature Sulfidic Corrosion - API RP 939-C
Process Units Susceptible to Sulfidation:
Carbon Steels with low silicon (0.10%) content can corrode at an accelerated rate Assets at risk from this type of degradation should apply PMI control to determine Silicon levels. (Retro-Active PMI is suggested and to follow API 578.) See API 571 and API RP 939-C See Section 7.1.4 & 5

Low Si-33%,PMI-18%,Specification Break-17%

Retro-Active Positive Material Identification PMI API RP-578 2nd Edition

HF Alkylation Unit Retro -Active PMI for Residual Elements in Carbon Steel API 571

Sample Preparation in HF Alky Unit Retro -Active PMI

Crude Unit for Low SiAPI RP-939C Retro -Active PMI

Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs :

CIU Retro -Active PMI
High Temperature (450F /232C to 900F/482 C ) PMI

Remote Access Retro -Active PMI

Valves, Pipes, Fittings, & Instruments

CCD Camera with Small Spot for Welds

Weld Dilution Retro -Active PMI

PMI Field Testing Methods ( XRF or OES ) Technologies:

Two Primary Technologies for Portable Elemental Analysis:
X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF)
Technique of exciting and ejecting atoms inner shell electrons with x-ray radiation and analyzing the fluorescent x-rays emitted when the atoms return to a stable state. X-ray energies emitted correspond to the individual elements, while the intensity is a function of quantity

Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES)

Technique of vaporizing sample surface and analyzing the emitted light spectra. The wavelength of the light corresponds to the elements present, while the intensity is a function of quantity of that element.

PMI Field Testing Methods: How XRF & OES Work

Em ission-Radiat ed in for m of Light !!

Excit at ion- O ut er Shell

PMI Field Testing Methods ( XRF or OES ) Technologies:

Pros: Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Accurate Portable the handheld XRF analyzer weighs approximately 1.3 kg (3 lbs.) and is transported in a belt holster at the users side Reduced sample preparation Completely nondestructive Simplicity XRF technology is much more user-friendly, allowing relatively unskilled operators to participate in the inspection process Can measure elements only down to Mg on the periodic table (cannot measure carbon) Stricter regulation and licensing requirements

Cons:

PMI Field Testing Methods ( XRF or OES ) Technologies:

Pros: Transportable Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Accurate Gives visible clue that material has been tested (burn mark) Can measure more light elements than XRF (such as C) Difficulty of transport OES instruments tend to be large and unwieldy, posing access problems in hard-toreach locations Sample preparation the OES testing requires careful preparation of the sample by grinding off the oxide layer and eliminating any pitting or inclusions in the test area prior to analysis Damage to the sample the OES test burns and vaporizes a small amount of the sample material, resulting in a heat-affected zone that in some cases must be re-heat treated User expertise OES instrumentation requires a high level of user sophistication to maintain calibration, recognize data anomalies, proper surface preparation, etc.

Cons:

Control of Incoming Materials & Warehouse

Should have a MVP associated with Receiving Alloy Materials PMI testing May be Performed as Part of the Receiving Function PMI Could be Performed at Suppliers Location as a Condition of Release of Shipment MVP Should Provide Proper Documentation & Methods for Indicating Which Materials have been Tested and Re-Approved for Use. MVP Should Be Regarded as Quality Assurance Practice PMI Testing in Warehouse Should Not be Regarded as Alternative to Field PMI testing

Elements of Maintenance Systems for PMI

Temporary Removal of Spool Pieces Need to be Managed in such a way that Material Mix-Ups Cannot Occur. Consideration shall be given to a Firm Control System A Verification prior to Re-Installation to prevent Mix-Ups Occurring Tagging Spools as they are Removed to Ensure Correct Replacement Should be Considered PMI After the Repair Procedures to Confirm Proper Alloys were used PMI May also Include Components Used Consulting with the Inspector prior to Commencement of Work Can Ensure Good Material Control was Enforced

Elements of Maintenance Systems for PMI

Carbon steel Elbow in a Resid Hydrotreater Unit (RHU) heat exchanger outlet pipe (Elbow 1) ruptured after operating only 3 months in high-temperature hydrogen service. NO PMI Performed and Elbows Removed without Marking or Tagging !

Recording & Reporting PMI Test Results

Material Certifications: Material Certifications, mill test reports, or Certificates of Compliance should not be considered a substitute for PMI testing, but may be an important part of an overall quality assurance program. Shop and Field PMI Test Documentation: Those individuals performing PMI testing should obtain and follow the PMI test procedure approved by the owner/user. This procedure should cover the techniques used , equipment calibration, the qualification requirements of the PMI test personnel, the testing methodology, and documentations requirements. When documentation, such as drawings, is used in lieu of physical marking, the documentation should allow the owner/user to identify which components were tested. New and Existing Piping Systems Documentation: When PMI testing is conducted on new or existing piping systems, records of the results should be kept as long as the piping system exists in its original location. If a piping system or a portion of a piping system that has not received material verification is relocated, the owner/user should consider the need for PMI testing prior to placing the relocated components into service.

Recording & Reporting PMI Test Results

API RP 578 PMI REPORT FORM Project No. Supplier Distributor Visit Date Draw ing No. Model No. Client: PO No. Contact Phone No. OES XRF
Material Verification Element % Material Verification Element % Material Verification Element %

Report New Construction Report Existing Piping Report Date: Shop Ref No. Item Tag No. Performed By:

Reading No

Material Description

Grade of Material

Traceability to Field Components; the information listed in PMI Test Records should be reported in such a manner that they are traceable to the point of installation.
Remarks

Heat No.

Accept

Reject

Action Iterm s for Non-Conform ance Material:

The best way to tie the Report Documentation to the field PI&D or ISO drawings, is to mark the drawings ( Electronically or Manually) and enter this (drawing number) in the XRF/OES Analyzer. It is strongly suggested that you keep both paper and electronic files on this documentation.
Enter data into Analyzer
PMI PMI

PMI

Interface with Data Management Software (i.e. PCMS, Ultra-Pipe, Meridian, Solid AIM & RBI Software)

PMI PMI PMI

Conclusion :
Introduction New Construction- QA/MVP Programs Existing Piping Systems ( Retro-Active PMI ) Programs PMI Field Testing Methods ( XRF or OES ) Technologies Control of Incoming Materials & Warehouse Elements of Maintenance Systems for PMI Recording & Reporting PMI Test Results Conclusion ( Questions & Answers )

Questions & Answers?

Don Mears
Analytical Training Consultants & Thermo Scientific Niton XRF Analyzers 1719 Burning Tree, kingwood, Texas ( USA) 77339 Web: www.ATC578.Com Don@ATC578.Com or Don.Mears@Thermofisher.com Phone: +1 (281) 684-8881

Niton XRF Analyzers

API/TPCP -0118